PRTI-DARE ROLLS OUTS GUTS PROGRAM

The Pacific Regional Training Institute-Drug Abuse Resistance
Education program continued its new pilot program, Get Up and Try
Something, to provide various activities and programs for the youths
of Guam, the CNMI, and other neighboring islands in the Pacific region.

The program is designed to get the youth actively involved in various
activities such as sports and occupational opportunities that exist
within or outside the community. In addition, the program helps DARE
with its drug awareness and prevention programs, using various
activities to keep youth busy instead of sitting around or getting
involved in criminal activities, help improve and increase their
self-esteem, and team building

The new pilot program was introduced and taught by PRTI supervisor
Edward Maratita Jr. and Eskuelan San Francisco De Borja students had
the opportunity to experience the new program's various activities.

The important aspect of GUTS is that it gives students a chance to
determine what they want to do with their lives as well as understand
the consequences should they make irresponsible decisions. Students
are taught that success comes with a price, and that dreams are only
attainable through hard work, sacrifice, personal discipline, and
self-control.

The lessons are directed toward developing short-term and long-term
goals, personal responsibility for one's success, living mediocrity,
and honoring and supporting each other in pursuit of life goals.

The program's success is determined by improvement in a student's
academics, attendance, and attitude. These criteria are evaluated on
an ongoing basis, and students clearly understand that negative
performance in any of these areas is grounds for removal from the
program. Once the student's show improvement, they are always welcome
to come back.